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Egypt, Somalia seek bilateral cooperation

Egypt’s Prime Minister, Moustafa Madbouly, met on Sunday Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ahmed Isse Awad, in order to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of development and security. According to a statement from the cabinet, Madbouly stated during the meeting that has Egypt has for a long time supported the Somalian …

Egypt’s Prime Minister, Moustafa Madbouly, met on Sunday Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ahmed Isse Awad, in order to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of development and security.

According to a statement from the cabinet, Madbouly stated during the meeting that has Egypt has for a long time supported the Somalian people and is ready to attend to the needs of the Somali government.

The minister highlighted fisheries, arable lands, and livestock as sectors which are prime for Egyptian investment.

Madbouly spoke of the “historical ties” linking the two peoples, noting that Egypt has been “keen about pushing forward bilateral relations” between the two countries, and about “meeting the needs of the Somali brothers,” in various fields.

On the other hand, Isse Awad “praised Egypt’s historical support for his country,” and spoke of the “importance of Egypt’s role as influential in mobilising Arab support for the Somali government and people.”

There are around 4,000 Somali refugees in Egypt, according to the UNHCR’s official numbers.

Somalia is fighting the militants group Al-Shabab. The insurgents once controlled most of southern and central Somalia, including large parts of the capital, but were driven out of fixed positions in Mogadishu and Somalia’s major towns by a 22,000-strong African Union (AU) force.

AU troops launched a fresh offensive in March against Al-Shabab bases, and although they seized a series of towns, the insurgents are thought to have fled in advance and suffered few casualties.